By Taylah Eastwell
A devastating fatal dog attack in Pakenham has hit home for many animal lovers who have been concerned about the number of dogs roaming off leashes in designated on-leash local reserves for quite some time.
Three days prior to the fatal mauling, pet owner Meagan Courtney took to Facebook to express her frustration at dogs being off leashes along the Cardinia Aqua Duct Trail running between Thewlis Road in Pakenham and Dickie Road in Officer.
While Cardinia Shire Council requires all dogs to be on leashes in public places that are not designated off-leash dog parks, Meagan’s post was well received, with other residents expressing their frustration at the number of canines roaming free in local walking areas without council intervention.
“My biggest issue is that it’s the law to walk a dog on a leash unless you’re in an off leash area. I have an 11-week old puppy that isn’t socialised yet so I am nervous to take her out for walks because of other dogs,” Ms Courtney said.
“It takes barely anything to spook a dog or a horse and when a dog is spooked or excited, all their training goes out the window and they rely on their instincts as we saw with the attack last week.”
Others expressed their concerns over native wildlife including echidnas and wallabies being in the vicinity of the trail, as well as horses, calling for all owners to follow the law and place their dogs on leads.
Pet minding organisation Oz Pet Minders owner Kevin Spencer voiced his concern about the number of incidents arising from dogs being unleashed.
“There are people running around with dogs off their leads that think they know it all and that their dogs are safe, and even if they are safe what about the dog that comes along that isn’t,” Mr Spencer said.
“Once one dog is off a lead you are no longer able to control the environment around you.
“If council don’t start enforcing the rules maybe next time it will be a child. In July an elderly man was mauled to death in Mill Park. We believe that people who have their pets off leads need to be prosecuted as it is evidently an accident waiting to happen.”
